Don't be offended by Confederate symbols

Published: Friday, December 26, 2003 at 12:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, December 25, 2003 at 11:00 p.m.

Love is hard to give because one must not expect anything in return. I don't know what the judge had in mind when he displayed himself in a costume that displeased some people. Free speech, a moderate display, is our right.

I think black groups such as the NAACP, churches, etc., should tell blacks to wear a pendant or some other emblem of the Confederate flag to remind all how close the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers came to not only marching against segregation but against slavery had the North lost.

Those who display the Confederate flag or emblem may intend it for one reason, but blacks could display it to remind that there is a flag that we have that represents all the people -- north, south, east and west, blacks and others.

Blacks, don't be offended when you see anything like the Confederate flag, but thank God for America the beautiful.

<p>Love is hard to give because one must not expect anything in return. I don't know what the judge had in mind when he displayed himself in a costume that displeased some people. Free speech, a moderate display, is our right.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>I think black groups such as the NAACP, churches, etc., should tell blacks to wear a pendant or some other emblem of the Confederate flag to remind all how close the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers came to not only marching against segregation but against slavery had the North lost.</p><p>Those who display the Confederate flag or emblem may intend it for one reason, but blacks could display it to remind that there is a flag that we have that represents all the people -- north, south, east and west, blacks and others.</p><p>Blacks, don't be offended when you see anything like the Confederate flag, but thank God for America the beautiful.</p><p>Peace, brothers and sisters.</p><p>Rev. E. R. Etheridge</p><p>Gibson</p>